Sound-reproducing machine.



' PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

F. MYERS. SOUND RBPRODUGI-NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILM MAY 3, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'No. 860,878. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

P. MYERS.

SOUND REPRUDUGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 860,878. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. P. MYERS.

SOUND REPRODUGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 190a.

IBHIEIHTB-SHIIE'I' 3- No. 860,878. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. P. MYERS.

SOUND REPRODUGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1906.

4 SHBETS-SHEBT 4.

Hil

- ings.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK MYERS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SOUND-BEPRODUOING MACHINE.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK MYERs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at London, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Reproducing Machines, of which 7 the. following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to sound-reproducing machines and has particular reference to those in which disk records are employed.

According to this invention the record, instead of being carried upon a table rotated by the motor, as heretofore, is supported upon a stationary table, while the sound-box travels in a circular path over the face of the record. One advantage of a machine constructed in this manner is that it is found to operate elliciently even when tilted considerably out of the normal level, whereas machines having a rotating record are rendered irregular in action or even inoperative under similar conditions. It will be understood that any support employed to carry the record is comprised by the term table hereinafter employed throughout the specification. The sound-box is driven by the motor but is also free to nuWel-aterally in a straight. line and preferably in a path strictly radial to the record for the purpose of following the spiral groove therein in the well known manner. In disk machines at present on the market, the sound-box is carried on a pivoted arm and therefore cannot, move in a straight line whether such line he radial or otherwise, but traverses a path constituting an arc struck from the pivot of the arm.

A further feature of this invention consists in utilizing the movemcntof the sound-box to provide a forced draft through the intake of the trumpet whereby the. volume of the sound is increased and the quality improved.

hi the accompanying drawings wh ch illustrate one method of carrying out this invcntiou-Figure l is a central vertical section of theanachinc viewed from the front: Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same viewed from the right of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a detail; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the supporting bracket, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sound-box and adjacent parts.

bike letters indicate like parts throughout the draw- The base A of the machine shown is circular except for a rear lug A carryinga bracket ll. The upper surface of the base is dished and for the sake of lightness it is perforated so that radial arms A onlyare left connected to a central boss A. In this boss a centering pin A is secured by a nut U and the base is covered by a piece of baize A held at the center by a washer or flange A on the pin A; The baize is" large enough to extend over the edge A of the base and isthere secured by a ring A" which is forced over the upper end of the base and grips the baize so that it is pulledtight Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 3,1906- Serial No. 315,060.

Patented July 23, 1907.

and securely held in place. The upper face of the base serves as the record table and a record X is indicated in place thereon. It will thus be seen that the record table is stationary and consequently the record is stationary, so that the sound-box must be operated to travel or move in relation thereto.

The upper end of the bracket. B has a jaw ll in which a motor (J of any convenient construction is mounted. The motor is secured by screws B which pass through lugs on the lower member of the jaw B and enter the bottom plate of the motor. The upper plate of the motor is secured to the upper jaw member B" by a screw B which in addition to fastening the upper plate, helps to hold in place an arm ll". The arm has three feet B which serve as distance pieces whereby the arm is lifted above the plate. The screw B passes through one of these feet and other screws 13 are passed through the other two feet into theplate so thatthe arm is rigidly held in place. The forward end of the arm extends beyond the motor and is shaped to constitute a socket B, split as shown at B and provided with a gripping screw B whereby the ends of the socket may be contracted to tighten it upon a sleeve D carried therein. The lower end of the sleeve tapers off in the form of a truncated cone, as shown at D, but the upper end is of uniform diameter.

Within the upper end of the sleeve a liner D is mounted having a web D at its base. The upper end of the liner has a lip D adapted to engage a corresponding groove in the wall of the sleeve D. The lip projects slightly from the surface of the liner D- so that the upper end of the sleeve D springs out slightly as the liner is forced into place, until the lip comes ppposite the groove in the sleeve, where it is securely held. A conical elbow-socket E takes over the upper end of the sleeve I) and receives the trumpet commonly employed with these instruments.

Within the lower end of the sleeve D, a vertically rotatable tube F is mounted which constitutes the intake of the trumpet. Its upper end is open to the interior of the liner D and thus the trumpet socket E, and its lower end communicates with the sound-box as hereinafter described. the web D in the liner D- by a screw F The screw is shouldered to rest upon ,the web and extends through the same and into a web F? in the upper end of the intake F. A toothed ring F surrounds the upper end of the intake and is rigidly secured thereto and gears with a toothed wheel C on the m0- tor; the sleeve D is slotted as shown at D to admit the wheel 1 The lower end of the intake I extends beyond the sleeve D and receives a tubular elbow F.

Tliis elbow constitutes'a horizontal supporting arm for a sliding arm G. The sliding arm is carried on the elbow by a fitting G, shown in perspective in Fig. 4. This fitting is preferably cast and for convenience may The intake F is suspended from be described as comprising two double sockets G, G and G, G, respectively connected together by side plates G. The sockets G'-, G, take over the horizontal portion of the elbow F and the sockets G G havesecured in them a tube G which receives and serves asa guide for the sliding arm G. The arm G carries on that end within the tube an elbow G the mouth of which enters a slot G in the horizontal limb of the elbow F; the slot extends along the limb a distance equal to the travel of the sliding arm G. The sliding arm has an extension G beyond the elbow G, such portion constituting a steadying piece for the arm when the latter is advanced so that the elbow approaches near the end of the tube G. The tube G" is slotted, as shown at G*, to allow free movement of the elbow G as it traverses the slot G.

On the free end of the arm G the sound-box H is carried. therefore does not require detailed description in this specification. It is not carried directly on the arm G, but is supported from the same by a connection of the Card-an joint type. This connection comprises a horizontal jaw-piece If carried on the end of the arm G.

.In the jaw 1P a vertical jaw-piece H is pivoted, and

within this jaw-piece is carried a tube H adapted to receive the corresponding tubular socket H of the soundbox. It will be seen that this joint permits free movement of the sound-box as it traverses the groove of the record and allows it to rest upon the record.

The operation of this machine is as followsz--The motor imparts motion to the wheel C which in turn rotatcs the vertical intake tube F by means of its engagement with the toothed ring F thereon. The end of the intake rotates freely in the cover D of the'sleeve D'and carries round with it the elbow F The fitting G and sliding arm G move with the elbow and consequently thesound-box secured to the free end of the arm G will, if left to itself, travel in a circular path. .-'\s is well known in these machines, the groove in the record is spiral and consequently the point of the sound-box needle must, as it traverses the groove, move laterally towards the center of the recordythis movement is permitted by the slidingarm G and is in a trictly radial direction, as indicated by the line I17, l ,5. 3/ It will be noted that the arm G slides in a path parallel to a radial line drawn from the center of rotation, but its position isso adjusted that the needle point traverses the desired radial path. in machines in which the sound-box is carried on a swinging arm, this strictly radial movement, or any straight line lateral movement, is impossible, and it is found in prao the that the records become injured by the movement of the needle in a curved instead of radiai path.

.3 further f atu e of this invention relares to means wlnreby the sl. movement, asapart from some such control. the centrifin; arm is controlled in its endwiso box out of the groove in the record.

This may be of anyconvenient construction and lies beyond the tube G even when the arm is in the withdrawn or central position and on the socket G* of the fitting is pivoted a weighted arm J carrying a roller P. The roller .l" lies in the path'of the cam J and asthe arm G is drawn outward away from the central position, the roller rides up the cam. It will be seen that r the incline of the cam may be made such as to provide the desired resistance for the purpose of counteracting the centrifugal effect. Preferably the control of the arm G is further effected by a spiral spring K mounted within the extension G" of the arm. One end of the spiral spring is secured to the elbow G and the other end to a cap G by which the end of the tube G is closed. Preferably the spring K is slack when the arm G is at the central position as when the arm nears this position it is found that it has a tendency to run suddenly in towards the center so that the needle of the sound-box leaves the groove of the record. To further insure that this sudden sliding-in-of the arm shall not take place a second cam J may be mounted on the arm G. This cam inclines in a direction opposite to that of the cam J and also lies in the path of the roller J so that the one weighted arm cooperates with both cams, but the cam .l resists outward movement of the arm G, while the cam J resists inward movement of the same after the arm has passed a given point. It, will be noted that in the drawings the cam J is shown as having a constant incline throughout its length so that it does not offer increasing resistance as the arm is moved farther outwards. employed with it and the resistance of the spring increases as it is further extended but if desired the cam may have an increasingly steep incline as shown by the cam J.

Another feature of this invention consists in the utilization of the movement of the sound-box to create a forced draft through the trumpet whereby the volume of sound may be increased. For this purpose a mouthpiece or funnel L is mounted in the free endof theelbow l. The mouth of thefunnel faces in thedirection of rotation so that as the sound-box travelsair will be forced through the funnel and along the elbow l up through the intake I and socket E, whence it passes out through the trumpet.

The soundbox ii is preferably rotatable upon the part ll of the (ardan joint, and its socket H is slotted as shown at ll to engage the pin Ilon the part 11.

he slot ii" is in the form of a bayonet-joint and allows limited rotation of the sound box, whereby the latter may be brought into either of the positions indicated. The Working position is shown in Fig. 2, but when it is desired to insert a needle, the sound box may be turned into the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the needle-holder is raised. On the socket H of the soundboxis a lug or engaging piece H and a cooperating stop H is carried on the part II of the (ardan joint, but extends forward to the lug 11*. These parts are so disposed that when the sound box is in the position shown in Fig. l. the h ,3 H bears against the stop ll"whereby the downward movement of the sound-box about the horizontal pivot of the tardan joint is limited. This gives rigidity to the soundbor when the needle holder 1;: i h ais d position and renders it easier to handle. ('onveniently a cross bar or finger-piece ll" is secured across the face of the sound-box, and serves both to This is because the spring is G fast in the elbow F engages this slot. When the fitting is advanced to the limit of its movement in a direction towards the center of the machine, the apparatus is in position for taking large records, but when drawn back to the limit of its movement in the opposite direction as controlled by the slot G and pin G, the arm G is in the position for small records, as will be readily understood.

The wheel C of the motor and toothed ring F on the top of the intake F-are preferably of fiber or some other material which is noiseless in operation. As such substances are not as strong as metal, it is probable that the teeth would be broken should the arm G be suddenly stopped during its rotation without the motor being braked. For this purpose the wheel C is not carried fast upon its spindle, but is held friction-tight between a shoulder C thereon and a nut C 'The nut may be slacked-or tightened as desired for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the degree of friction between the wheel and its driving spindle,

For controlling the motor a rod M is slidinglysupported in a lug M on the arm'B. One end of the rod is provided with a head M whereby it may be handled and the other end is screw-threaded and engages a pivoted lug M carried by a horizontal arm M". The arm M is supported on one end of a vertical rock shaft M and at the lower end of this rock shaft is an eccentric brake-piece M. The brake-piece is in proximity to a brake disk M forming part of the well known governor device indicated at M. For starting the motor the rod M is pushed inwards, so'that the brake-piece M is withdrawn from the disk M and for stopping the motor the rod is moved in the reverse direction. In addition to starting and stopping, however, the speed at which the motor runs may be controlled by rotating the rod M whereby it is screwed further in to or out from the pivoted lug M. It will be seen that if when thus rotated the rod is kept home at its starting position, the arm M will still be turned about its vertical pivot so that the brake-piece M will be brought nearer to or further from the disk M whereby the governor will-be checked in the well known manner.

A tremolo device may be used with this machine and comprises a disk N having a central socket N adapted to take over the head of the screw F whereby the intake F is supported. The disk N practically closes the top of the intake but it has a notch or orifice N at one side. Over the disk fits a bridge-piece N but this does not come in contact with the disk and rests at its outer edges upon a ledge N* formed in the interior of the liner D". The bridge-piece is thus stationary, whereas the disk N rotates with the screw F so that the ori lice N appears first at one side of the bridge piece and then at the other, whereby the tremolo cfiect is obtained.

The volume of sound passing to the trumpet may be controlled by a sliding shutter 0 carried in guides O conveniently formed in one with the socket B. v The shutter can be advanced a greater or less distance across the liner D whereby any degree of modulation may be obtained, as will be readily understood.

The bracket B is adjustably carried upon the lug A of the base A. For this purpose the foot of the bracket is beveled as shown at B, and these beveled portions take into a correspondingly undercut groove in a shoe B", which rests upon the surface of the lug. The bracket is held in place by a screw B extending through the lug A and shoe B into the bracket, and the lug is slotted so that the bracket may be adjusted before the screw is finally tightened. Thus by sliding the bracket in the shoe B and rotating the shoe on the lug the center of the socket B can be readily brought into alinement with the center of the record table, and then the screw B tightened so that it is rigidly secured in place. Thennder side of the shoe 13" and the up-, per surface of the lug are preferably roughened to provide a grip between these two parts.

1. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a sound-box, means for carrying the sound-box round in a circular path above the recordtable and in a plane approximately parallel thereto, means for permitting lateral movement of the sound-box. a trumpet, and a tubular connection between the soundbox and the intake of the trumpet the movable part connected with the sound box having an air inlet whereby a forced draft is set up through the intake of the trumpet as the sound-box travels, substantially as set forth.

In a soundreproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a sound-box, means for carrying the sound-box round in a circular path above the records table and in a plane approximately parallel thereto, means for permitting lateral movement of the sound-box, a stationary trumpet, a swiveled tubular connection between the sound-box and theintake of the trumpet, and a flared mouthpiece or funnel carried by the movable part of the tubular connection and connected with the interior of such connection and facing in the direction of movement whereby a forced draft is set up through the intake of the trumpet as the sound-box travels, substantially as set forth.

In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table, a sound-box, an arm horizontal to and above the table and carrying the sound-box, means for rotating the arm about a vertical axis, and means for supporting the arm while permitting endwise movement of the same, substantially as set forth.

4. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table, a sound box, an arm horizontal to andubove the table and carrying the/ sound-box, means for rotating the arm about a vertical axis, means for supporting the arm While permitting endwlse movement of the same, and means for counter-balancing centrifugal action upon the sliding arm. I

in a sounda'eprodncing machine thecombination of a stationary record-table." a bracket secured thereto and extending. over the same, a tubular arm horizontal to the table and having a vertical extension whereby it is rota: tably carried in the bracket, :1 second tubular arm parallel to the first such arm being slidingly supported by the lirst mentioned arm and communicating with the interior of the same, means for preventing rotation of this second arm about its longitudinal axis. u sound'box carried by the second arm in such manner that the vibrations of the (liar phrugm are imparted to the air in the second tubular arm and thence to that in the first tubular arm, and means for rotating the latter arm about a vertical axis concentric with the vertical portion of the same, substantially as set 'forth. I

(i. in a sound-reproducing machine the combination oi' a stationary, recorddable," a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a tubular arm horizontal to the table-and having a vertical extension whereby it is rotaiably carried in the bracket, :1 lilting having two parallel sockets one of which takes over the horizontal portion of this arm whereby the fitting is carried thereon, a second tubular arm slidably mounted in the second socket of the fitting and communicating with the interior of the first arm, means for preventing rotation of this second arm in its socket. a sound-box carried by the second arm in such manner that the vibrations of the diaphragm are imparted to the air in the second tubular arm and thence to that in the first tubular arm. and means for rotating the latter arm about a vertical axis concentric with the vertical portion of the same. substantially as set forth.

7, in a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a tubular arm horizontal to the table and having a vertical extension whereby it is rotatably carried in the bracket, a fitting having two parallel sockets one of which takes over the horizontal portion of this arm whereby the fitting is carried and can be moved endwise thereon, a second tubular arm slidably mounted in the second socket of the fitting and communicating with the interior of the first arm, means for preventing the rotation of this second arm in its socket, a sonnd-box carried by the second arm in such manner that the vibrations of the diaphragm are imparted to the air in the second tubular arm and thence to that in the first tubular arm, and means for rotating the latter arm about a vertical axis concentric with the vertical 'portion of the same, sub stantially as set forth. I

8. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a tubular arm horizontal to the table and having a vertical extension whereby it is rotatahly carried in the bracket, a fitting having two parallel sockets one of which takes over the horizontal portion of this arm whereby the fitting is carried and can be moved endwise thereon, a stop to limit such endwise movement, a second tubular arm slidably mounted in the second socket of the fitting and communicating with the interior of the first arm, means for preventing rotation of this second arm in its socket, a sound-box carried by the second arm in such manner that the vibrations of the diaphragm are imparted to the air in the second tubular arm and thence to that in the first tubular arm and means for rotating the latter arm about a vertical axis concentric with the vertical portion of the same, substantially as set forth.

9. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary r-ecordtable," a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a sleeve secured to the bracket in a position vertical to the table, an inner vertical tube rotatably mounted within the sleeve and extending below the same where it has a horizontal tubular extension or arm, a sound-box carried by this extension, means for-rotating the inner tube. and means for permitting lateral movement of the soundbox, substantially as set forth. V

10. In a sounda'eproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a sleeve securedto the bracket in a posiiion vertical to the table, an inner vertical tube rotatably mounted within 'the sleeve and extending below the same where it has ahorizontal tubular extension or arm. a sound-box carried by this extension, means for rotating the inner tube, means for permitting lateral move ment of the sound-box, and a trumpet carried on the upper end of the vertical sleeve, substantially as set forth.

11. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table, a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a sleeve secured to the bracket in a position vertical to the table, a laterally projecting support within the sleeve, an inner vertical tube mounted within the sleeve and extending below the some where it. has a horizontal tubular extension or arm, means for rotatably suspending this inner-tube from the support within the sleeve, u sound-box carried by the extension or arm of the tuhe,'means for rotating the inner tube and means for permitting lateral movement of the sound-box, sub staniinlly as set forth.

1;. in u sorind-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table." a bracket. secured thereto and extending over the same, n sleeve secured to the bracket in a position vertical to the table. a laterally projecting support within the-sleeve, an inner vertical tube mounted within the sleeve and extending below the somewhere ii has a horizontal tubular extension or arm, a lateral projection within the inner vertical tube and near the upper end of the same, means for suspending the inner vertical tube by its lateral projection front the support within the sleeve such suspending means being situated in line with the central vertical axis of the tube andpermitting rotation of the tube aboutcsuch axis, a guide on the lower end of the sleeve whereby the lower end of the inner tube is maintained in the vertical position. means for rotating the inner tube, a sound-box carried by the ex tension or arm oi the inner tube. and means for permitting lateral movement of the sound-box, substantially as set forth. 4

124. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary recordt.-ihle," a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same. a sleeve secured to the bracket in a position vertical to the table, a laterally projecting support within the sleeve, an inner vertical tube mounted within the sleeve and extending below the same where it has a horizontal tubular extension or arm, means for rotatnhly suspending this inner tube from the support within thctsleeve, a disk carried detachably by the inner vertical tube and closing the same except for an orifice in the disk. :1 bridge-piece carried by the stationary sleeve and extending across the disk on the outlet side of the sleevebut in proximity to the disk, :1 sound-box carried by the extension or arm of the tube, means for rotating the inner tube, and means for permitting lateral-movement of the sound-box substantially as set forth. Y '14. in a sotmda-eproducing machine the combination of a stationary recortLtable." a sound-box, an arm horizontal to and above the table and carrying the sound-box. means for rotating the arm about a vertical axis, a support for the arm which permits endu'ise movement of the same therein, a cam carried by one of these last mentioned elements, namely the ,s'upport and the sliding arm. and :1

yielding member opposed to the cam and carried by that element which does. not carry the cam so that as the arm advances the yielding member resists such advance but is displaced by the cam. e

15. in a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table, n sound-box, an arm horizontal to and above the table and carrying the sound-box, means for rotating the arm about a vertical axis, a'support for the arm which permits cndwise movement of the same therein. a cam carried by one of these last mentioned elements. namely the support and the sliding arm. a yielding member opposed to the cnm'and carried by that element which does not carry the cam so that as the arm is advanced in a direction uwayfrom the center of rotation. the yielding member resists to such advance but is dis placed by the cam, and a spring connecting the sliding arm with its support and 'also opposing ,outwnrd movemeut of the arm. substantially as set forth.

iii. In a soundreproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a soundbox, an arm horizontal to and above the table and carrying the sound-box. means for rotating the-arm about a vertical axis. a support for the arm which permits cndwise movement of the same therein. a cam carried by one of these last mentioned elements. namely the support and the sliding arm, a yielding member opposed to the cam and carried by that element which does not carry the cam, so that as the arm moves towards the center of rotation the yielding member resists such movement but is displaced by the cam, and a spring couuecliug the arm and its support and tending to oppose oiiiward movement of the arm. substantially as set forth.

17. In a sounda'eproducing machine the combination oi a stationary record-table," a sounddiox. an arm horizontal to and above the table and carrying the sound-box, the connection between the arm and sound-box being such that the latter can be turned upon the arm about a center co-axiul with that of the arm. means for permitting that end of the arm carrying the sound-box to hinge about a horizontal axis. a stop and a corresponding engaging-piece one carried by the arm and the other by the soundbox and so disposed relatively to each other that when the sound-box is rotated to a given position the engaging piece and slop being brought into contactv limit the movem'ent of the sound-box about the horizontal hinge referred to, substantially as set forth.

18. In a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table, a bracket secured thereto and extending over the same, a member rotatably mounted in the bracket in a position vertical to the table and having a horizontal extension or arm, a sound-box carried by this extension, means for permitting lateral movement of the sound-box, a motor carried by the bracket referred to, a toothed wheel carried by the vertical rotatable member in the bracket and engaging a toothed wheel of the motor one ofthese Wheels being of material other than metal. and means for mounting one of the wheels friction-tight upon its carrying member, substantially as set forth.

1!). in a sound-reproducing machine the combination of a stationary record-table," a tubular arm horizontal to and above the table, such arm being so shaped as to constitute 15 vertical axis, and a vertical stationary trumpet having--20 a swivel connection with the arm and in open connection with the interior of the same, substantially as set forth. in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK MYERS. Witnesses A. J. FRENCH, A. M. HAYWARD. 

